School leaders are trying to raise awareness about legal synthetic marijuana that is getting into the hands — and lungs — of local kids in grades as young as middle school. In a meeting last week, Russell Middle School principal Rob Johnson told other principals, parents and community members that the potentially lethal and otherwise dangerous drugs are being sold locally as “perfectly legal” substances under names like “Scooby Snax,” “K2” and “Spice” — the catch is that the stuff is not made for human consumption, but kids can still get it.

Also known as “Incense,” “Bath Salts” or “Potpourri,” the dangers these substances pose to users have circulated the news for years, but the recent death of a Fayetteville teen has brought the issue to the forefront yet again.

The reported 16-year-old honor student and junior varsity soccer player was found dead in his family’s hot tub after allegedly smoking some version of it earlier this month.

Johnson said he has heard comments from middle and high school students locally who know about it and have used it here in Barrow County.

“It’s not just the ‘high’-part that’s an issue,” said Johnson “It’s the throwing up and severe headaches that last for months.”

Johnson wants the student code of conduct to reflect these incense-based drugs that are commonly sold in convenience stores. “It’s a hallucinogenic (substance) that is really, really dangerous,” he said. “It’s something we need to add to our code because it’s not there.”

Although there has only been a total of three incidents involving the substance at Apalachee High School this year, AHS principal Glenn Wilson said the community needs to know that it is dangerous. “I would not consider it a ‘problem,’” Wilson wrote in an email. “It is something we will monitor and see if there is an upward trend.”

Winder-Barrow High School principal Al Darby was unable to be reached for comment.

PROPOSED STUDENTCODE CHANGE
At the March 15 Winder-Barrow Cluster Governance Team meeting, Johnson recommended that the team approve a change to some terminology in the student code of conduct that relates to drugs, essentially adding the words “hallucinogenic drugs” to the explanation of terms in the existing student code. As it stands, the student code of conduct defines drugs as “the unlawful use, cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, or importation of any controlled drug, narcotic substance, inhalant or equipment or devices used for preparing or using drugs or narcotics. Includes substances alleged or purported to be a controlled substance and over the counter and prescription medications if not used according to Board of Education Policy (JGCD).”

According to BCSS Director of Student Services Ken Greene, the proposed policy change will now go to a District Governance Team, which contains representatives from both Apalachee and Winder-Barrow clusters. If approved there, it would go before the Barrow County Board of Education. In this case, the BOE would be asked to place the recommendation on the table until the next regularly scheduled meeting in order to allow for public comment, said Greene.

The public can access the Barrow County Student Code of Conduct by going to the BCSS’s web site at http://www.barrow.k12.ga.us/, clicking on eBoard under ‘Important Links’ on the right side of the page, then clicking on ‘Policies’ and selecting ‘Students.’ The Student Code of Conduct is under policy JCD-R (2).

WINDER POLICE ADDRESSES ISSUE
The Winder Police Department has planned a class to raise public awareness of the issue at Winder-Barrow High School on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. The event will include school representatives, members of the District Attorney’s office, school resource officers and drug investigators. The course will cover a lot of the issues surrounding synthetic marijuana and will be open to the public, Winder Police Officer Chris Cooper said by email. Anyone interested in learning more about the class can contact Detective Gregg Teatino at 678-425-6873.

GBI INVOLVEMENT
According to John Bankhead, spokesperson with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the state’s crime lab has processed 600-700 legal and non-legal versions of synthetic marijuana in the past year alone. A bill is currently being pushed in the Georgia legislature that addresses the versions of synthetic marijuana that do not fall under the controlled substances act. If Senate Bill 370 passes, all versions of synthetic marijuana will be illegal, Bankhead said by email.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONSE
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office was also asked for a response related to the issue. Lt. Matt Guthas replied with the following statement: From what we have been told from school officials, the meeting last week was not convened for the purpose of discussing synthetic marijuana (also known as "K-2" or "Spice"). Synthetic marijuana was, however, brought up in a meeting where some principals were in attendance. The Sheriff's Office was not at that meeting, but remains dedicated to cooperation with school officials in the protection of the County's children and the equal enforcement of the law.

Specifically, the Sheriff's Office is committed to the enforcement of Georgia's laws against controlled substances. The Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit specializes in the investigation of cases of synthetic marijuana possession, use, or distribution just like any other controlled substance. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab assists local law enforcement in the chemical testing of synthetic marijuana as well. In 2010, HB 1309 passed both Georgia Legislative Houses and was signed into law by Governor Perdue on May 24, 2010. The bill amended O.C.G.A. 16-13-25 to make "synthetic cannabinoids" a Schedule I controlled substance. Hence, synthetic marijuana is very illegal, and very dangerous. The Sheriff's Office encourages parents and guardians to discuss the dangers of controlled substances with children and youth.

Some manufacturers of synthetic marijuana have attempted to circumvent the law by altering the chemical compounds used to make the synthetic marijuana. However, the State Legislature is currently considering a bill that would prohibit all varieties of compounds used make synthetic marijuana. If citizens are concerned a person or business may be selling synthetic marijuana, they are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit @ 770-307-3080, ext. 3083."

Attention Readers: Odin's Eye will be reporting to this debate soon... To Inform You that if you just let your kids smoke the REAL stuff, they would be safe from this dangerous synthetic marijuana substances.

Alcohol is legal for Adults, that has not stopped about 70% of High School KIDS in the United States from trying alcohol (per polled statistics). What makes you think if we Legalized your marijuana that it would be any different?

Smoking Cigarettes is illegal by youths too, but it done in mass by Children everyday, so before we jump on board with "Odin's one-person Crusade for Legalization of the feared weed" --You might want to solve some of these issues that present a problem towards your cause, why so many dont jump on board

When you engage in ad hominem attacks it only serves to prove that you have no argument and lack intellect.
Please refrain from ad hominem attacks; they are boring and serve no other purpose other than to distract.

Obviously you are the one lacking intellect Odin, I was not making an argument, but rather an observation, which you could not distinguish from an argument. (Because that is your purpose for being here, to argue your Pro-Drug propaganda and attack others) I see the drugs are damaging your ability to read and reason, so you get testy and judgemental when others post anything not agreeing with you. (and your drugs appearantly boost your own sense of superiority too)...

percent of high schollers report using on regular basis drugs either prescription or illict the numbe decreases based on aging, but these drugs used are also prescription drugs so outlawing it is not working for sure, and DARE program was horrible failure 85 oercent of students that were in it went on to try drugs. maybe Police should try something they know about or at least not over exagerate what happens if you use DRUGS. you are not going to die from using most drugs, one time will not ake everyone a raging dope fiend. some common sense show if you use extra story to discourage use then when people do try and find hey that was load of crap what else are these folks bullcrapping us about, once you use excessive streches of the truth you lose the most important thing to dealing with teens, integrity

Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that outlaws synthetic marijuana in Georgia.

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